Yesterday, Dr. Ann Cavoukian, Ontario's Information and Privacy Commissioner, released the results of her investigation into a privacy complaint regarding the installation of the Toronto Transit Commission's (TTC) video surveillance system.
The press conference was held in the Media Studio at Queen's Park and The Mississauga Muse made sure that she was there.
Because I'm only a citizen-Blogger and not "accredited" by real media, I wasn't allowed to videotape Dr. Cavoukian's press conference. Because I'm only a citizen-Blogger and not "accredited" by real media, I wasn't allowed to ask questions during Dr. Cavoukian's press conference.
Not being allowed to videotape, I can handle. Turns out I just have to bring a DVD to Queen's Park and they'll make me a free copy of the Cavoukian Conference that their in-house people recorded so I'm good with that.
Not being able to ask questions was another thing however. The questions that accredited media asked clearly reflected either a lack of preparation by the reporters going in or a refusal to ask prickly questions.
On the bright side, the Queen's Park media clearance people were terrific and above all sympathetic. Believe it or not, they clearly gave the impression that they felt sorry for me. They bent over backwards to be accomodating and I'm appreciative.
TTC VIDEO SURVEILLANCE FINDINGS
I'll keep this part brief because as I've said, I'm ordering a copy of Dr. Cavoukian's conference from Queen's Park and you'll be able to see it in its entirety for yourself.
Dr. Cavoukian stated that:
- 85% of people support the use of video surveillance cameras.
- Cameras made them feel safe
- Cameras have legitimate use for crowd control in confined spaces like subways.
- Cameras assist police in investigating "events".
- While personal privacy stops once you step outside of your own house, personal privacy does not entirely "disappear".
- All but the most rabid privacy advocates acknowledge legitimate uses for video surveillance.
Dr. Cavoukian admitted that she uses the TTC --and late at night, she'll stand where she knows there's a video surveillance camera. Me too. When I'm on Mississauga Corporate Property, I park right under their Pelcos --especially since I know that they're live-monitored.
WHICH BRINGS US TO...
Dr. Cavoukian made it clear that the TTC's cameras are not live-monitored save for one place that has legitimate rush-hour crowd control needs.
Dr. Cavoukian stated that the concerns citizens (and privacy advocates) have relates to live-monitoring of video surveillance cameras. She stated that there are numerous examples of security guards zooming in on subjects ----example, women's breasts (gee, quel surprise).
[An aside: What Dr. Cavoukian didn't say (and what I know) is that any video surveillance camera able to read a Blackberry from across the street gives a camera operator (she observed they are mostly male) one heck of a peep show. Or video live-monitoring-voyeurism --snooping on couples thinking they're "alone" etc. Even making copies of "good stuff" fo' later. There are "abuses"... ]
Dr. Cavoukian was somewhat critical of the TTC for not holding public consultations or providing the public with sufficient information regarding the installation of these cameras. I suspect that there will be changes as a result.
She also had some suggestions for the TTC:
- Change their video "retention' from 5 days to 72 hours --then it's erased.
- Bring in an "independent third party" to regularly audit TTC video surveillance operations to ensure compliance with privacy issues.
- Finally, "signage" should be posted along with a contact number for people wishing to know more about video surveillance.
After the press conference, and true to Queen's Park's word, I did get to ask Dr. Cavoukian my question.
As readers here know, over the months, I've made numerous references to Dr. Cavoukian's October 2001 (note: 2001)"Guidelines for Using Video Surveillance Cameras in Public Places" outlining what institutions need to consider when installing a Video Surveillance system.
My question related to concerns surrounding that 2001 document.
Some of the guidelines under the heading, "Considerations Prior to Using a Video Surveillance System" include:
"A video surveillance system should only be considered after other measures of deterrence or detection have been considered and rejected as unworkable."
"Video surveillance should only be used where conventional means (i.e., foot patrols) for achieving the same law enforcement or public safety objectives are substantially less effective than surveillance or are not feasible,"
This raises the question of why Mississauga Council Chambers need a Pelco PZT in addition all those ROGERS cameras --plus two Mississauga City Security guards at all Council meetings. I mean there are times when I'm the only one in the audience (yes, I have video of that).
"The use of each [emphasis in the guidelines, not mine] video surveillance camera should be justified on the basis of verifiable, specific reports of incidents of crime or significant safety concerns."
(My personal favourite guideline for prior to installation)
Consultations should be conducted with relevant stakeholders as to the necessity of the proposed video surveillance program and its acceptability to the public. Extensive public consultation should take place.
And under the Guidelines' section, "Designing and Installing Video Surveillance Equipment" it states:
"The public should be notified, using clearly written signs, prominently displayed at the perimeter of the video surveillance areas, of video surveillance equipment locations, so the public has reasonable and adequate warning that surveillance is or may be in operation before entering any area under video surveillance."
"Institutions should be as open as possible about the video surveillance program in operation and upon request, should make available to the public information on the rationale for the video surveillance program,"
Video monitors should not be in a position that enables public viewing.
AH WHAT THE HECK, ONE MORE...
Under the Guideline heading, "Auditing and Evaluating the Use of a Video Surveillance System":
"Institutions should ensure that the use and security of video surveillance equipment is subject to regular audits."
"The institution should regularly review and evaluate its video surveillance program to ascertain whether it is still justified in accordance with the requirements in Section 4. This evaluation should occur at least once a year."
But then again, these are "just guidelines" and clearly don't have to be followed, right?
You are now ready to watch my video of me asking my "Guidelines" Video Surveillance Question to Dr. Ann Cavoukian.
VIDEO: MISSISSAUGAWATCH asks Privacy Commissioner, ANN CAVOUKIAN
(Click here to go directly to the clip on YouTube or Google Video)
Signed,
The Mississauga Muse
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"Corporate Security Policies and Procedures are proprietary." (Mississauga Corporate Security --February 16, 2006)
"The impact of the Unconnected can't be underestimated" - Mississauga Visionning Symposium comment (February 23, 2008)
"We must employ every possible tactic to dissuade those who try to silence us with fear" ---The Mississauga News Editorial (2007-03-24)
Want (or worse, need) to learn more? Link to MISSISSAUGAWATCH.CA
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Comments (7)
MUSH-sector kinda investigation:
Ombudsman to Investigate Province's Protection of New Homeowners
Marketwire
Tue 04 Mar 2008
Dateline: TORONTO, ONTARIO
Time: 14:08 PM
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - March 4, 2008) - Ontario Ombudsman Andre Marin has informed the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services that he intends to investigate how the Ministry represents itself to the public regarding its relationship with the Tarion Warranty Corporation.
The investigation will also examine the degree of consumer protection new homeowners can expect to receive from the Ministry. The Ombudsman does not have the jurisdiction to investigate Tarion itself, as it is a private corporation.
The investigation will be conducted by the Special Ombudsman Response Team, which has already conducted an assessment of complaints received from a number of homeowners. Members of the public who have complaints or information relevant to this investigation are welcome to contact the Ombudsman's Office at 1-800-263-1830 or online at www.ombudsman.on.ca.
Aussi disponible en francais
-30-
Posted by Anonymous | March 4, 2008 5:34 PM
Posted on March 4, 2008 17:34
I seem to recall a zoom in on a certain mayor's notes...
Posted by Bright Snoop | March 4, 2008 6:02 PM
Posted on March 4, 2008 18:02
You should tell me when you're going to some of these events, Ursula. Maybe I can help you out.
Posted by crazyrabbits | March 5, 2008 2:50 PM
Posted on March 5, 2008 14:50
Hi there, crazyrabbits.
Good to see you back on here again.
You wrote:
I didn't know about the Queen's Park thing until Sunday night believe it or not. That happens a lot. Finding out at the last moment. I was lucky. Often I find out about an important event after the fact.
Like just now I found out there was a Poverty in Peel workshop yesterday that was held by Colour of Poverty. If I'd known about it, I'd have surely gone.
Check this out. MISSISSAUGA NEWS article, "Experts paint a disturbing picture of poverty in Peel"
Two sentences strike home.
and especially:
Poverty based on race isn't just "overlooked". "Our Future Mississauga" talked about "intentional cities" --"intentional design" and the introduction of the "intentional" concept forced me to realize that this racial divide --this "economic apartheid" surely has to be "intentional design" by the City and the Region. I mean, surely.
Has to be.
If for no other reason than it's not possible for human beings to be that consistently incompetent and callous all on their own.
"the widening chasm between rich and poor", "economic apartheid" the race-based poverty "elephant in the room" ....ALL, "INTENTIONAL DESIGN".
I'll try and announce "events" earlier, crazyrabbits. One thing, though. Once you really commit to researching Ontario municipal government (especially Mississauga), you change as a person. And it's not for the better.
It's like your entire body changes at a molecular level.
You don't TRUST any more. Any THING related to government. I'm ASHAMED of these people I'm forced to observe. The stupifying hypocrisy.
If I had any advice for people getting interested in municipal "watchdogging" --if you jump in those evil waters, you can never be happy again.
Never feel CANADIAN again.
That's the warning I'd give anyone. Ontario municipal governance snuffed out CANADA.
Thanks for writing.
Justice and Peace, crazyrabbits (hah, I'd typed "Peach" :-) )
Posted by The Mississauga Muse | March 5, 2008 4:15 PM
Posted on March 5, 2008 16:15
You don't have to be an expert to know there's a big gap between the HRDC $51 billion surplus and the outsourced disappearance of our vital statistics and records of employment at the root of our Pockets of Poverty.
What Mississauga needs is a mayor like Houston B.C. Mayor Sharon Smith and councillors to bare the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth In Camera.
http://www.garth.ca/weblog/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/candidate-sharon-smith.jpg
Posted by Wayne Nagy | March 6, 2008 8:55 AM
Posted on March 6, 2008 08:55
What's in the water in Oakville??
Councillors don't want to open floodgates to complaints regarding closed-door meetings
Metroland - Halton Division
Thu 06 Mar 2008
Page: 01
Section: Oakville Beaver
Byline: David Lea
Column: 6
Dateline: Article
Councillors have balked at appointing an investigator to look into closed door Town Council meetings for fear it could spark frivolous claims.
Councillors deferred a motion to appoint Local Authority Services Ltd. (LAS) as a neutral investigator pending a staff examination of the possibility of cost-recovery initiatives against those who bring on investigations without merit.
The program, which has its origins in Provincial Bill 130, was introduced to increase the transparency and accountability of municipalities.
This legislation stated that as of Jan. 1, 2008 a person may request that an investigation be undertaken into whether a particular municipality's closed meeting was warranted.
Currently, as Oakville has no policy in place concerning this program, the Ontario Ombudsman investigates these claims.
Where the proposed program runs into trouble, as far as councillors are concerned, is the relatively simply way an investigation can be triggered.
Under the proposed policy a complainant would have to pay a fee of $125 to prompt an investigation..
The concern councillors have stems from the fact that LAS would charge the Town over $1,000 a day to investigate a claim.
"For $125 someone can instigate an investigation that might cost us thousands of dollars," said Ward 6 Councillor Max Khan, when the matter arose at last week's Administrative Services Committee. "Setting the fee that low might instigate frivolous claims."
Khan noted that setting the fee higher would do no harm to serious complainants because their money would be refunded if the investigator found the complaint to be viable.
Ward 5 Councillor Jeff Knoll called for a cost-recovery initiative instead.
"Transparency is important and I'm in favour of the $125 fee or no fee at all because we don't want to exclude valid complaints because people can't afford the fee. For some people, $125 is not a lot of money, for other people having a hard time, it's a weeks worth of groceries," said Knoll.
"A cost-recovery initiative for the investigations is better because there are people out there who just want to challenge everything we do and they need to know that if they abuse this program they could be called to account for it."
© 2008 Metroland Printing, Publishing & Distributing
Idnumber: 200803060045
Edition: Final
Story Type: News
Length: 357 words
Posted by Anonymous | March 6, 2008 2:02 PM
Posted on March 6, 2008 14:02
Like if it hadn’t of flown in from the Mulroney/ Schreiber affair, the substantial portion of this $2.1 million paid out by Alan Rock went directly to pay for the “Public Relations media unit ”and little to do with legal fees filing during the “Turtles Down” epidemic. Mulroney with held whether he had any proof.
Odd for a PM with Lawyer's certificate?
Similarly with the Mississauga City there-of , Hazel McCallion’s outsourcing to entrepreneurships and businesses in Mississauga January 29 2002 were charged in [Ed: deleted, Sorry, Wayne] December 20 2006 while victims were forced out to vacate under the premises of the “ $66 million a year Pooling mandate.
Peculiar because, immigrants with Bachelors of the Arts are first in line to these public private sector jobs to round the square peg on their foreign policy that's short circuiting our Canadian-Ontario justice system .
The B.A. licensed journalist reporter who did initial down loading for Peel Region thru Family services of Peel ( available on request) didn’t cut the grade to work for the Mississauga News.Thank god!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=E5qGUIXRYYo
http://www.cnw.ca/fr/releases/archive/December2006/20/c9249.html
Posted by Wayne Nagy | March 7, 2008 11:13 AM
Posted on March 7, 2008 11:13